As much as we think of technology as just gadgets or apps, there are many other areas where < innovation takes place. And, over the past decade, one of the best examples of where tech has flourished is the footwear industry. From self-lacing tech to cushioning systems made from tiny foam particles, brands like Nike, Adidas and others have gone all out trying to change what footwear design means.
In 2012, Adidas introduced Boost, a material made out of expanded Thermoplastic Polyurethane (eTPU) particles that formed "closed cells around tiny pockets of air." The result was a cushioning system that make shoes feel as if you're walking or running with a soft pillow under your feet.
Even though Adidas debuted its first running sneaker with Boost in 2013, it wasn't until 2015 that the technology became a hit. That was the year the company introduced the Ultraboost, and once Kanye West was pictured wearing it, Adidas couldn't keep it on its shelves.
As comfortable as the Ultraboost is, its "cool" factor was largely thanks to Kanye.
While Adidas worked on Boost, Nike was busy developing a new sneaker tech of its own: Flyknit.
The year Nike unveiled its Joyride Run Flyknit, featuring a midsole with tiny plastic beads. Old and new tech in one shoe.
Adidas, meanwhile, introduced a midsole made entirely out of 3D-printed materials in October of 2015, as part of a new project called Futurecraft.